A prentice whilom dwelt in our city, And of a craft of victuallers was he: Galliard 1375 he was, as goldfinch in the shaw, 1376 Brown as a berry, a proper short felláw: With lockës black, combed full fetisly. 1377 And dance he could so well and jollily, That he was called Perkin Revellour. He was as full of love and paramour, As is the honeycomb of honey sweet; Well was the wenchë that with him might meet. At every bridal would he sing and hop; He better lov’d the tavern than the shop. For when there any riding was in Cheap, 1378 Out of the shoppë thither would he leap, And, till that he had all the sight y-seen, And danced well, he would not come again; And gather’d him a meinie of his sort, 1379 To hop and sing, and makë such disport:
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